Foot-connectable cleaning apparatus and methods of using

ABSTRACT

A Foot-Connectable Cleaning Apparatus and Methods of Using invention. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention relate to cleaning apparatuses that attach to the feet to leverage the weight of a user&#39;s body to improve cleaning efficiency, and reduce or eliminate stresses on the body as well as potential injuries.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to the field of cleaning apparatuses primarily for consumer use.

DISCUSSION OF THE BACKGROUND

One of the biggest challenges of cleaning various surfaces is the requirement to bend in uncomfortable positions and, at times, get down on hands and knees to be able to reach and/or clean various surfaces. For many people it is difficult to position their bodies in such uncomfortable positions, and such positioning may lead to accidents or injuries. Additionally, to clean particular surfaces, extra scrubbing power must be supplied to completely remove stains and messes. Hands and knees allows only a certain amount of force/power to be generated (i.e., that which may be generated with arms and shoulders). At times, such force is not sufficient to completely remove stains, dirt, grease, grime or other messes.

Thus, it is desirable to provide a cleaning apparatus that allows a user to easily generate additional cleaning power without significantly increasing exertion and/or effort, and without a user getting down on his or her hands and knees to clean floors or other surfaces.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention advantageously provides a Foot-Connected Cleaning Apparatus (“FCCA”) that a user may affix to one or both feet, one or both hands, or use with an extendable, removable rod to clean any surface.

The FCCA allows a user to apply additional cleaning force without additional effort, and is versatile because it may be used with one or more pads, sponges, brooms and/or other attachments. The additional force and/or power that may be applied using the FCCA makes cleaning projects easier and, thus, reduces the number of total devices needed to complete a cleaning project. The FCCA also provides a better overall result because instead of just cleaning with hand and/or arm strength, a user may now clean with the weight and power of his or her legs and/or entire body.

Further, utilizing an FCCA device with the same or different cleaning elements connected to each of a user's feet, a cleaning project may be completed faster and with less effort. For example, one FCCA on one foot may perform a mopping function and another FCCA on the other foot may perform a drying function, or one FCCA on one foot may perform a sweeping (broom) function and another FCCA on the other foot may act as a dustpan. The FCCA eliminates the need to get down on hands and knees or bend over in uncomfortable positions to complete a cleaning job, thus eliminating or at least reducing injuries.

The FCCA advantageously may be connected to a user's feet (one foot or both feet, depending on the cleaning project), one or both of a user's hands, or attached to the extendable rod so that a user may choose to clean any way the user desires. Fewer total devices are needed in order to obtain the cleaning results desired. The FCCA may be used by almost anyone because the FCCA is adjustable to fit virtually any size foot or hand. Additionally, the FCCA is designed so that there is no left or right foot or hand, and any attachment may be used on either foot, or on either hand.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary, but not restrictive, of the invention. A more complete understanding of FCCA and the methods disclosed herein will be afforded to those skilled in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side perceptive of the foot-connectable apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a front side view of the foot-connectable apparatus illustrating its different parts, shape, foot holder and placement when in an upright standing point.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the foot-connectable cleaning apparatus illustrating in more detail its foot holder or connecting aspect along with other specified attachments.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the foot-connectable cleaning apparatus bottom cleaning section illustrating its look from afar.

FIG. 5 is an elevated view of a foot-connectable cleaning apparatus illustrating it in an elevated and disassembled aspect.

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the apparatus illustrating its cleaning mat.

FIG. 7 is a close up of FIG. 5 illustrating the bottom disassembled aspect.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. While the invention will be described in conjunction with the preferred embodiments, it will be understood that they are not intended to limit the invention to these embodiments. On the contrary, the invention is intended to cover alternatives, modifications, and equivalents that may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention. Furthermore, in the following detailed description of the present invention, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will readily be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details.

Embodiments of the present invention advantageously provide a Foot-Connectable Cleaning Apparatus (“FCCA”) that makes any surface exponentially easier to clean by leveraging the power of a user's legs and in some instances, the entire weight of a user's body. The modular design allows the user to complete more cleaning with less cleaning tools and/or devices, and when used in conjunction with multiple attachments, the apparatus will speed up cleaning of any surface.

Typical embodiments of the FCCA comprise: (1) a foot connector (see FIGS. 3); and (4) one or more attachments (cleaning elements; see e.g., FIGS. 6-7). In some embodiments, the FCCA may further comprise a base member (see FIGS. 5)

The foot connector is worn by a user (see e.g., FIG. 3). For example, the foot connector may be worn on the left or right foot, or the left or right hand (see e.g., FIG. 7), and typically is a sandal-like “shoe” having one or more straps that are adjustable to conveniently affix the foot connector to the user's foot or hand. The sole of the foot connector may comprise rubber, leather, foam, memory foam, textile, wood, rope, tatami, cork, latex, jute, etc., and/or combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the foot connector may comprise a narrow thong, that generally passes between the first and second toes (or the second and third fingers), but typical embodiments have no thong, and instead comprises one or more straps that pass over the arch of a foot or back of a hand, and if worn on the foot, around the heel or ankle of the user. If worn on the hand, one or more straps may wrap around a user's wrist.

The sole of the foot connector may comprise an insole and an outsole. In embodiments without a base member, the insole may comprise a soft and/or cushiony material (e.g., foam or memory foam) so as to be comfortable when worn on a foot of a user, and the outsole may comprise a harder stiffer material (e.g. a hard plastic or rubber) to withstand the force applied by a user's body when the FCCA is used for scrubbing or scraping.

Although shown as a sandal-like shoe, having straps, the foot connector may be any type of “shoe” (e.g., a slipper, athletic shoe, tennis shoe, a tennis shoe sandal, clog, etc.) that may be adapted to accept a cleaning element or attachment. There are no right or left foot connectors (the connector may be worn on either foot), and although termed a “foot connector,” the foot connector may also be worn on either the right or left hands as well. Thus, foot connectors may be worn on one foot, on both feet, on one hand, on both hands, and any combination thereof at the same time.

The straps of the foot connector may comprise polyester, nylon, leather, woven or non-woven fabric, rope, elastic, etc., and/or combinations thereof. The straps may be adjustable by various adjustment methods (e.g., hook and loop fasteners such as Velcro®, a series of holes in the straps and buckle, laces that may be tied at varying lengths, etc.) to allow the foot connector to fit any size foot or hand.

In embodiments of the FCCA without a base member, the bottom of the foot connector may comprise one portion of a “quick connect” device for connecting one or more cleaning elements. For example the quick connect device may comprise one or more hook or loop fasteners (e.g., Velcro®) with the corresponding hook or loop fastener(s) on the cleaning element. Alternatively, straps (elastic or otherwise), snap fit devices, tongue and groove type connectors, or other quick connect devices that provide for an easy and efficient connection between the attachments and the foot connector may be utilized.

In embodiments comprising a base member, the base member may be attached and/or connected to the foot connector, and typically comprises a material that is harder, stiffer and more durable than the foot connector. Whereas the foot connector is designed to be comfortable when worn by the user, the base member is designed to withstand the weight of the user's body and the force of a scrubbing or cleaning action. Thus, it is typically a hard, but relatively lightweight plastic, thermoplastic, fiberglass, polymer material and/or combinations thereof.

The base member may be attached and/or affixed to the foot connector by most any means (e.g., pins, screws, straps, nylon cable ties, plastic welding materials, cements, epoxies, urethanes, cyanacrylics, contact adhesives, etc., or combinations thereof.) Similar to the foot connector when used without a base member, the opposite side (bottom) of the base member may comprise a portion of a “quick connect” device for connecting one or more cleaning elements. As described above, the quick connect device may use one or more hook and loop fasteners (e.g., Velcro®), straps (elastic or otherwise), snap fit devices, tongue and groove type connectors, or other conventional quick connect devices that provide for an easy and efficient connection between the attachments (cleaning elements) and the base member.

In an alternative embodiment, the base member may comprise an adapter configured to snap or slide on to any shoe or foot covering (e.g., a slipper, athletic shoe, tennis shoe, a tennis shoe sandal, clog, etc.) and connect or attach securely thereto. In such embodiments, the FCCA may comprise the base member, the aforementioned adapter and one or more cleaning elements (attachments), with the adapter typically attached to a top side of the base member and the one or more cleaning elements attached by way of a quick connect mechanism to the bottom side of the base member.

Attachments for cleaning may comprise various sponges, brushes, scrubbing pads, scrapers, mops, polishing cloths, dustpans, etc. The attachments may be larger or smaller than the foot connector and/or base member, or may be the same size.

Additionally, in some embodiments, the FCCA also comprises a reservoir to store cleaning liquid, and one or more spray nozzles to distribute the cleaning liquid to the surface to be cleaned. Typically, the reservoir is attached at or near a front portion of the FCCA, and in embodiments having a base member, the reservoir may be attached or affixed to the base member.

In alternative embodiments, the reservoir may be approximately the same length, width and shape as the base member and/or the bottom of the foot connector and may be located below the foot connector, between the base member and the foot connector, or below the base member such that the reservoir serves as an extra “layer” to the FCCA. In some embodiments, the reservoir may connect directly to one or more cleaning elements or attachments (e.g., by use of one or more of the quick connect mechanisms described above). The reservoir may also be the same or similar in length and width to the clean elements or attachments. In other alternative embodiments, the reservoir may be a difference size and shape than the foot connector, the base member and/or the cleaning elements, but still serve as an extra “layer.”

The cleaning liquid may be dispensed from the reservoir by various means. For example, cleaning liquid may be dispensed by certain motions of the foot connector (e.g., by tapping of the FCCA on the surface to be cleaned, flexing the foot, hand and/or ankle, movement of the foot connector from side-to-side, etc.) The reservoir is typically refillable, and in some instances may be removable for ease of filling and emptying.

In some embodiments, the FCCA may comprise a scraper tool, most typically attached or affixed to a back portion of the FCCA, and in embodiments having a base member, the scrapper tool may be attached or affixed to the base member, such that a heel of a user's foot or a base area of a user's hand may be used to scrape hard, stuck or dried on matter from any surface.

The FCCA may also be utilized with an extendable and/or removable rod (see e.g., FIGS. 1, 3 and 5). The rod may be attached (at least temporarily) to the foot connector via one or more magnets, a threaded hole with a corresponding thread at one end of the rod, a “quick-connect” coupling, or other means of connecting the rod to the foot connector. The rod may then be easily removed to utilize the FCCA on the foot or hand of a user.

The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.

CONCLUSION

The FCCA allows a user to apply additional cleaning force without additional effort, and is versatile in that it may be used with one or more pads, sponges, brooms and/or other attachments. The additional force and/or power that may be applied using the FCCA makes cleaning projects easier and, thus, reduces the number of total devices needed to complete a cleaning project. The FCCA also provides a better result overall because instead of just cleaning with hand and/or arm strength, a user may now clean with the weight and power of his or her legs and/or entire body. Moreover, the FCCA of the present invention reduces or eliminates injuries caused by the user bending or getting on his or her hands and knees to clean a floor or other low surface. 

1. A Foot-Connected Cleaning Apparatus (“FCCA”) that a user may affix to one or both feet, one or both hands, or use with an extendable, removable rod to clean any surface. The FCCA allows a user to apply additional cleaning force without additional effort, and is versatile because it may be used with one or more pads, sponges, brooms and/or other attachments. The additional force and/or power that may be applied using the FCCA makes cleaning projects easier and, thus, reduces the number of total devices needed to complete a cleaning project. The FCCA also provides a better overall result because instead of just cleaning with hand and/or arm strength, a user may now clean with the weight and power of his or her legs and/or entire body, utilizing an FCCA device with the same or different cleaning elements connected to each of a user's feet, a cleaning project may be completed faster and with less effort. FCCA on the other foot may perform a drying function, or one FCCA on one foot may perform a sweeping (broom) function and another FCCA on the other foot may act as a dustpan. The FCCA advantageously may be connected to a user's feet (one foot or both feet, depending on the cleaning project), one or both of a user's hands, or attached to the extendable rod so that a user may choose to clean any way the user desires.
 2. Further to claim 1 of the specification for the FCCA that product in question incorporates cleaning functions related to drying, sweeping and dust collection or dustpan aspect via the functionality of the FCCA.
 3. The FCCA of claim 1 allows the user to efficiently clean or take or large cleaning projects due to its numerous tools related functions readily available such having an extendable, removable rods for easy to use and hard to reach surfaces. This mobility allows the user to efficiently use the FCCA without incurring any injuries.
 4. The FCCA of claim 1 additionally, holds efficient and effective cleaning tools such as pads, sponges, brooms and/or other attachments which complement the FCCA as the user sees fit.
 5. The FCCA of claim 1 allows the user to have the option to use their body weight when cleaning to make it easier for the user to implement via the aspect of foot or hand attachments which the users own body part can be placed and attached or wear onto like a shoe or glove to illustrate seem less motions for easy use. 